A jellyfish known as the mauve stinger has forced Spanish authorities to close
several tourist beaches to protect bathers.

Large blooms of Pelagia noctiluca have been spotted a few hundred
metres off shore in western Asturias and eastern Galicia in northern Spain.
They are expected to wash up on tourist beaches in the next few days.

Experts have also received sightings of the notorious Portuguese man o’war in
waters off Asturias. The physalia physalis, a jellyfish-like
siphonophore, is renowned for its venomous sting.

Cepesma, which
co-ordinates the study and protection of maritime populations, said large
blooms of the mauve stingers